Air-brush.



T. A. DE VILBISS & G. MUELLER.

AIR BRUSH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28'. 19:6.

Patented Mar. 26,1918.

INVENT UR ga /Mm THOMAS A. DE VILBISS AND GODFREY MUEL LER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE DE VILBISS MANUFACTURING COMIPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

' AIR-BRUSH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS A. DE VIL- nrss and GODFREY MUELLER, citizens of the United States, and residents of'Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Air- Brush; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to air brushes, and has for one of its objects the provision of an improved nozzle of the fan-spray type forv use 111 connection therewith, which nozzle. s simple and etliclent in its constructlon and easily and quickly adjustable to cause the air brush to be of the fan-spray or cylindrical spray type, or to angularly adjust the fan spray with respect to the nozzle.

A further object of our invention is the provision of improved packing and guiding means for the discharge-controlling valve stem, which means, when impaired by reason of becoming worn or hardened from contact with the liquid being sprayed, is capable of being easily and quickly replaced by a new one, thereby enhancin the practicability and commercial value 0 apparatus of this character. This means while free to have reciprocatory movements in the barrel, is adapted to remain stationary and to permit the valve stem to have reciprocatory movements therein, thereby preventing the wear on the barrel wall incident to a movement of the packing means therein, especially if varnish, lacquer or other liquid of a similar nature is permitted to harden thereon.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

While the invention, in its broader aspect,

is capable of embodiment in numerous forms,

a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an air brush embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical. section thereof with a portion of the handle broken away. Figs. 3 and l are sections on the lines 33 and 4-'l, respectively, in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an end view of the air nozzle with the fan spray nozzle removed. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the fan spray nozzle retaining washer. Fig. 7 is an enlarged section of the nut and spring washer employed in connection with the spray head,

and terminates at its outer or forward endin a spray head comprising the inner liquid nozzle 3 and outer air nozzle at, both of which preferably have their outer end portions of conical form. The nozzle 2 has its inner end projected rearward into the barrel bore 5 and threaded therein, as at 6, preferably in spaced relation to its forward end. The nozzle 3 in advance of its rear threaded end cooperates with the surrounding portion of the barrel wall to form an annular chamber 7 which communicates atits forward end, entirely around the nozzle 3, with the annular air space 8 provided between the nozzles 3 and 4. The bore of the nozzle 3 communicates at its rear end with the barrel bore 5. i

A valve stem 9 is mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movements in the barrel bore and has its forward end conically reduced to form a valve which is movable into and out of the restricted discharge orifice of the liquid nozzle 3 to open and close the same, and also to serve as a cleaning member therefor. i The valve stem 9 has its rear end removably threaded, in the present instance, in a plunger member 10, which is movable, in the barrel, and has a reduced stem portion 11 projecting rearward therefrom through a carrying and ad usting sleeve 12 and connected by a yoke 13 to an operating finger 14, which finger has its upper end forked to straddle the barrel and is pivoted thereto, as at- 15. The sleeve 12 is threaded into the rear end of the barrel and forms the outer end thrust of a coiled compression spring 16 the inner, end of which is in thrust contact with the plunger 10. The point of attaching of the yoke legs that a rearward movement of the lower end of the finger will cause a rearward movement of the plunger 10 and valve stem 9 against the tension of the spring 16. Thetensmn of this spring is determined by an inward or outward turning of the sleeve 12 with respect to the nozzle.

The air nozzle 4 is mounted on" the forward end of the barrel 1, being threaded thereto, in the present instance, and the annular space 8 between it and the liquid nozzle 3 is forwardly restricted to permit the discharge of a thin annular stream of air from the nozzle around the discharge end of the liquid nozzle. The annular space 7 around the rear end portion of the liquid nozzle 3 has communication with a source of air supply under pressure through a passage 17 and chamber 18, the latter having a normally closed control valve 19 therein. The stem of the valve 19 pro ects rearward therefrom and pivotally attaches at its rear end to the upper forked end of the operating finger 14, whereby a rearward .movement of the lower end of the finger Will not only impart an opening movement to the valve stem 9 but will also impart a forward opening movement to the valve 19 against the tension of its closing spring.

The air nozzle 4, which preferably has its outer surface formed intermediate its ends with a conical portion, is provided in the surface of such portion with two segmental grooves 20 and 21, with one disposed forward of the other and therefore of d1fierent diameters so that the ends of one groove are adapted to lap the respective ends of the other groove without communicating therewith. The spaces between the ends of the respective grooves are preferably less than a semicircle, and these spaces are disposed in substantially diametrically opposed relation with one, in the present instance, located at the top and the other at the bottom of the nozzle. The groove 20 has communication with the interior chamber 8 of the air nozzle through one or more orifices 22, as shown in Fig. 3, while the groove 21 has communication with said chamber through one or more orifices 23, as shown in Fig. 4.

A supplemental nozzle 24 is mounted for rotary movements on the conical portion of the air nozzle 4 and is provided with diametrically opposed outwardly and forwardly projecting arms 25, with each arm provided with an air discharge passage 26. The inner end of one discharge passage 26 is adapted to register with the nozzle groove 20, while the inner end of the other passage 26 is adapted to register with the nozzle groove 21. It is thus evident that air from within the air nozzle may be simultaneously discharged from the passages 26, 26 when said passages are in communication with the respective grooves 20 and 21, and that such so disposed that the streams of air dis-.

charged therefrom would intersect at a point slightly in advance of the discharge ends of the nozzles 3 and 4 and in the path of discharge of fluid from said nozzles. The discharging of the opposing airstreains in this manner against the paint or pigment laden fluid stream discharged from the nozz1es3, 4 causes a flattening and spreading out of said fluid in fan form, as is well understood in the art. It is evident that a turning of the supplemental nozzle 24 on the nozzle 4 within the range of the grooves 20 and 21 will cause the plane of the fanspray to be angularly adjusted with respect.

to the axis of the spray head, thereby enabling the liquid laden stream to be broadened in a horizontal, vertical or any inter mediate plane, as may be suitableto the work to be performed. Should it be desired to use the nozzles 3 and 4 alone, the supplemental nozzle 24 may be turned to place the passages 26, 26 thereof out of register with the respective grooves 20, 21. i

The supplemental air nozzle 24 is held seated on the conical surface of the nozzle 4 by a nut 27,-which is threaded on the outer end of the nozzle 3 in position to bear against the outer end of the nozzle 24,

:as indicated in the drawing. The nut 27 is provided on its inner face with an annular groove or channel 28, the inner wall of which is provided at its outer edge with an overhanging ledge or flange 29. A spring washer 30 of suitable shape and size to fit into the channel 28 without the flange 29 is mounted in said channel and is of wavy or undulated form to provide successive spaced portions which may bear against the base of the channel 28, and successive spaced portions which normally project beyond the inner side of the nut, as indicated in Fig. 7. The portions of thewasher which are intended to bear against the base of the channel 28 are provided with inwardly projecting spurs 31 for engaging under the flange 29 of the nut and serving to retain the washer within the channel, and at the same time permitting the nut and washer to have relative rotary movements. It is apparent that a tightening of the nut 27 with respect to the supplemental nozzle 24 will .cause' a compression of the spring washer 30 within the channel 28 s that such washer will cooperate with the nut to yieldingly hold the supplemental nozzle 2st seated in adjusted position on the nozzle 4.

The barrel 1 is provided at the rear of the liquid nozzle 3 with a transversely extending inlet passage 32 which may be con nected by a hose or in any other suitable manner to the liquid to be sprayed. The valve stem 9 at the rear of the liquid inlet passage 39 has a packing and guiding sleeve 33 slidingly mounted thereon and having a close sliding fit within the barrel bore and serves to prevent liquid from passing rearward thereof. The sleeve 33 preferably comprises cork or other suitable material of a fibrous nature and has its movements lengthwise of the stem limited by stop shoulders at opposite ends thereof one shoulder being designated 34 and the other comprising a nut 35, which cooperates with the adjacent end of the plunger 10 to lock the valve stem in threaded connection therewith. It is found in practice that the mounting of the sleeve 33 for sliding movements on the valve stem, as well as for sliding movements in the barrel bore, permits the sleeve to remain substantially stationary in the barrel during operating movements of the valve stem instead of moving with said stem, as has heretofore been the practice, and cutting or injuring the interior surface of the barrel as has frequently been the case when the packing employed has become hardened by reason of the contact of varnish, lacquer or other similar liquid therewith. With our arrangement a new packing sleeve can be quickly mounted on the valve stem to replace an old one by simply withdrawing the stem 9 and plunger 10 from the barrel and separating the two to permit the old sleeve to be removed and a new one placed on the inner end of the stem.

It is evident that we have provided a simple and eificient form of nozzle of the fanspray type; that such nozzle is adjustable to angularly vary the plane in which the liquid stream is flattened and also to close the communication between the supplemen tal air passages 26 and the interior of the air nozzle; that we have provided simple and eflicient means for yieldingly 'retainlng the adjustable nozzle in adjusted position and have also provided a simple and efficient packing means for the valve stem whereby the wear and cutting of the barrel incident to the movement of a hardened packing member therein is avoided.

While we have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of our invention for illustrative purposes and have disclosed and discussed in detail the construction and arrangement incident to one specific application thereof, it is to be under stood that the invention is not limited to the mere detail or relative arrangement of the parts but that deviations from the illustrated form or embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. The combination with the spray-head of an air brush having a main air nozzle, of a supplemental air nozzle rotatably mounted on said main nozzle and having air discharge passages leading from opposite sides of its axis for directing air streams 1n converging planes without the outer end of said spray-head, said main nozzle having separate surface grooves in communication with the interior of the air nozzle and each in communication with one of said discharge passages during 'a predetermined adjusting movement of the supplemental air nozzle vvlth respect to the main nozzle and closed to said discharge passages during a dinerent predetermined adjusting movement of the supplemental nozzle with respect to the main nozzle.

2. In an air brush, a main air discharge nozzle having laterally discharging air passages in communication with the interior of said nozzle, and a supplemental nozzle rotatably mounted on said main nozzle and having a plurality of spaced laterally extending dischargepassages, one of said nozzles having the surface thereof which concts with the other nozzle provided with segmental grooves, which grooves establish communication between predetermined passages of said main and supplemental nozzle during a predetermined relative rotary adjustment of said nozzles and close such communication during a difi'ere'nt predetermined adjustmcnt of said nozzles.

The combination with the spray head of an air brush, of a supplemental air nozzle conically mounted on said spray head for rotary adjustment with respect thereto and having diametrically disposed discharge passages in communication with a source of air supply through the spray head and remaining in communication with the source of air supply during a predetermined rotary adjustment through a wide arc of said air nozzle to change the angle ofs ray, said discharge assages being dispose to direct streams of air in converging planes which meet in the line of discharge of liquid matter from said spray head.

i. .The combination with the spray head of an airbrush having a main air nozzle, of a supplemental air nozzle rotatably mounted on said main nozzle and having diametrically opposed air discharge passages for directing air streams in converging planes.

without the outer end of said spray head, said main nozzle having separate surface grooves in communication with the interior of the air nozzle and in communication with respective of said air passages during a predetermined adjusting movement of the supplemental air nozzle with respect to the main nozzle.

5. In an air brush, a main air discharge nozzle havin two segmental surface grooves with the ends thereof in diametrically opposed relation with respect to the nozzle axis and each having communication with the interior of said nozzle, and a supplemental nozzlejrotatably mounted on said main nozzle and having diametrically opposed discharge passages for communication at their inner ends with respective of said grooves and adapted to remain in register therewith during a predetermined rotary adjustment of the air nozzle.

6. In an air brush, a spray head having a main discharge nozzle provided with a conical outer surface and having segmental grooves formed in the conical surface of said nozzle in longitudinally spaced relation, with the ends of one groove lapping the other and with the space between its ends diametrically opposed to the space between the ends of the other groove, a supplemental air nozzle mounted on the conical portion of saidvmain nozzle and having a pair of diametrically opposed discharge passages in communication at their inner ends with respective of said grooves and adapted to have such communication closed when the supplemental nozzle is turned to place the inner ends of its discharge passages into register with the space between the ends of the respective grooves.

7. The combination with a spray head of an air brush, said spray head having a main air discharge nozzle of conical form provided with segmental surface grooves in.

spray head, of a nut threaded on the outer end of said spray head without the supplemental nozzle and having its inner face provided \vith"an annular channel, and a spring washer of undulated form mounted in said channel and having successive spaced portions seating against the base of the channel and successive intermediate portions in operative thrust contact with said supplemental nozzle.

10. The combination with the spray head I of an air brush and a supplemental air nozzle mounted thereon, of a nut threaded on the outer end of said spray head without the supplemental nozzle and having its inner face provided with an annular channel, a spring washer of undulated form mounted in said channel and having successive spaced portions seating against the base of the channel and successive intermediate portions in operative thrust contact with said supplemental nozzle, and means for retaining said nut and Washer in relative rotative engagement.

11. In an air brush, a barrel, a valve stem mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movements in said barrel and having spaced shoulders, a guide and packing sleeve mounted on said stem for limited sliding movements intermediate said shoulders and having a close sliding-fit in said barrel.

12. In an air brush, a barrel, a valve stem mounted for longitudinal movements in the bore of said barrel and having stop shoulders Spaced longitudinally thereon, a guide and packing sleeve of fibrous material mounted on the stem intermediate said shoulders for limited sliding movements thereof and having a sliding fit in the bore of said barrel. In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names to this specification.

THOMAS A. DE VILBISS. GODFREY MUELLER. 

